Junior Player of the Month
Eddie Vonderau
There are likely two (at least) major misconceptions about a place like Rapid City, South Dakota, that young Eddie Vonderau had to battle to earn his place in the finals of the 13 & Under division of the Junior International Championships’ (JIC) first season last year. The first is centered on the idea that if you live there, you’re probably having to battle cowboys with guns on Main Street. SKIP MALONEY - AzB Staff
“T
here’s a little bit of that,” said his father, Dr. Peter Vondereau, with a laugh.
The other prejudice is that in spite of it being the place where Shane Van Boening grew up and began his pool career, it’s doesn’t really have the reputation of being a place where hordes of up-andcoming pool players are emerging. His parents nurtured him on the story of Shane Van Boening and his claim to fame in the rough and tumble world of professional pool. “We remind him of that a lot,” says Eddie’s Mom, Christie Vonderau. “In fact, a lot of people remind him of that. We play with people who played with Shane when he was little and they see a lot of similarities.” In fact, the family not only plays with people who knew Van Boening, but at the place where Van Boening played as a kid. Originally known as 8-Ball Express, the room had become Break Time Billiards at around the time Eddie was born in 2008. “The great thing about Rapid City and Break Time Billiards,” said Peter, “is that the room is family-friendly and of course, non-smoking, and it caters to junior players, encourages them.” “If we didn’t have that available,” he added, “I don’t think Eddie would have progressed the way he did.” And here’s a new origins story, at least for us here at AZBilliards. Eddie Vondereau,
34 | Billiards Buzz • March 2022
